15 June 2015

Summer on the Sleeping Porch

The days have sort of flown by here, and my home is actually quite in disarray at the moment.

There was one more room to put the flooring down in, so the library is currently stacked almost to the ceiling, and the overflow is on the sleeping porch. This is not hyperbole. There is not a lot of places to put things in a cottage. My spouse still has to do the baseboards. We left the floors on the sleeping porch that pretty epoxied gray, because it works perfectly out here; I'm not sure why it stays so clean compared to the rest of the house, but it does, despite two sets of double doors to the outside. The new floor in my bedroom is that same pretty gray, distressed, and scraped bamboo that doesn't look like bamboo at all that we put in the kitchen and open areas. In the meantime, I have something beautiful to hang up that I purchased from Dore.. Also, check out Daphne's Diary . It's one of my favorite magazines and Dore's designs are in one of the photo shoots on weddings on p 30-35. Dore left me a message in the post below that explains it. It really was a surprise to her.

We have busier than usual. Presently, my daughter is finishing a couple of classes, while doing a summer ballet intensive and piano, so that involves driving. But we are also packing for our mother daughter trip next month. This year, I have a better camera and hope to get some great shots. I took many photos last year, but in the end, I didn't share many, because my daughter thought our trip was so magical that she wanted to keep it between us. We will be returning to Europe, but we have some familiar and some different places on our list this year. We save all year, so she can study piano with some world class teachers. So the precious little garden bird reminds me to relax.

There are always flowers...
Some fresh blossoms from the garden, and some dried ones...

I made the wreath, the painting, the chalkboard drawing, and the two white garlands.

I purchased the red, white, and blue banner, but I made a bunting last year; I was waiting to put it out in July.

Welcome to our vintage 1940s cottage fixer: built when homes were a big petite 1000 square feet with sleeping porches for summer cool. I adore romantic, vintage, a ruffle of French, Nordic, and Swedish country with a sprinkle of cottage glam: a relaxed whimsical, elegance. It's our home, and there is painting, music, gardening, creating, living, kitties, french poodles, (and a pug)...imperfect with luster.

The sleeping porch is so charming. How exciting about your mother~daughter trip! It is such a wonderful opportunity for your daughter and her piano studies. I always wished I had learned when I was younger.

Su,I have thought of you often since your last post. I adore your bird from Doré as I adore the one I have been graced with. Doré's talent transcends time and fills the heart with appreciation. Su your sleeping porch is something magical to me, especially living in a city dwelling. I would rejoice and indulge my fantasies in such a magical room. I just purchased a male Santos and I realize just how much inspiration and insight I have gathered from you.Your return to Europe with your daughter, seriously is heartwarming and even if you choose to keep its adventure between you and your daughter we all wish you joy and heart felt discovery,xoxo,Vera

Thank you, Vera. I love Dore's bird, and she shares so much talent and kindness. Your santos is so pretty, and I loved seeing him. I should do a post on them; I have a number of wooden ones. I just haven't because I can't put everything out at once, but if I have time I will, because everything is in the library right now. I live in the city too, but it is nothing like a city in Pennslyvania. There are older and newer neighborhoods beneath mountains and houses beneath them. The lots are larger in some of the older parts of the city than the newer parts. Just the opposite of some cities. xoxo Su

Have a wonderful time in Europe with your daughter. It sounds like so much fun and magical. Love all the items that you have made and your pretty little bird.Have a great week and can hardly wait to see all the remodeling you have done.Mary

Dore does such beautiful work, I don't own any of her pieces but I sure visit her shop/blog often to see what she has created! I'm sure the article is great! You sleeping porch sounds wonderful! Enjoy your upcoming trip, I know you will! Blessings, Cindy

Love this bird, if fits in beautifully with all your lovely handmade pieces on your sleeping porch. How fantastic that you and your daughter are returning to Europe this year. I hope this year is even more magical than last.

Su,I'm back to comment on how impressed I am with your daughter's strong desire for achievement in ballet and piano. I wish you and your daughter another magical summer while studying piano in Europe. xoxo,Vera

Hi Su,I wish you the very best! I think it is just so special the relationship you have with your daughter.I also am very proud of her desire to do well. That is so wonderful to see in young people.Sending prayers,Carla

Oh Su,What inspiration here that sooths the soul, and as for the bird I am so glad it has found a place in your home, so sweet of you to share.As for your sleeping porch, I remember seeing more or it and it had me so wishing I lived somewhere in the country where I had a sleeping porch that could add beauty and relaxation in restful nights with a cool breeze.

You and your daughters holiday to Europ sounds amazing, the practice piano under the guidance of teachers she must make you proud of her beautiful playing and dance.You need to post a you tube of her playing on your blog so we can all hear her hands perform such beauty.

Thank you, Dore. The porch is really a nice extra. I love it when my daughter and niece have a sleepover out there. I really love the bird, and its perfect for my home. I will have to find a link to send you. We had a wonderful time last year, and she learned so much. xoxo Su

Hi, Kathy. Dore made it at Burlapluxe. My spouse found her in Santa Fe, she doesn't have a company name on the bottom, even so I think she came from a company, because she is not as primitive as some others I have. She has such a pretty face. I would google "Santos". She has a wooden base, and she is probably made of plaster or some sort of paper mache. The shop that she came from doesn't sell online. xoxo

I meant that Dore made the bird, and the santos came from Santa Fe. Dore sells online at https://www.etsy.com/listing/235344643/black-traypink-roses-yellow-roses-wall. I think the shop in Santa Fe is called Todos Santos, Chocolates, and Confections.(all santos, chocolate and candy) xoxo Su

I wish you the most beautiful Summer together in Europe. The piano is my favorite instrument and I miss my daughter filling our home with her playing. I would guess that your daughter moves you to tears from time to time. My daughter's playing made me cry often. Its just so beautiful.

First off, your home is just so comforting to me. You know, it's kind of weird to say, but I feel like I could be such good friends with you. Your style, your comments on my posts...just the way you say things and present yourself here. I adore you, Su. I love how you live your life. Truly, I do. How neat you do a Mother/Daughter trip each year. I can't WAIT to see your pics this year! You know what I also love about you? How you are exposing your daughter to classical performing arts, just the way I was brought up. My father went to Juilliard as a piano concert major before becoming a doctor. He had a world class Russian piano teacher come to his home growing up. I only listened (and still do) to classical music. I studied classical ballet with a teacher who danced with Balanchine, taught Gelsey Kirkland and Darci Kistler from NYC Ballet, and I also studied with the Mistress of the Royal Ballet. Neither teachers are alive any more, sadly. xoxoxo Jen

Thank you, Jen, and the sentiment is mutual and returned. That is so fascinating that your father started out as a pianist and then went to medical school to become a doctor, but I have heard that pianists make good surgeons. It makes sense: the attention to detail and other qualities that go into playing well. That is so neat that your teacher studied with Balanchine; what a wonderful opportunity. Have a wonderful holiday weekend. xoxo Su

sujohnson

Christmas 2016

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Welcome to our vintage 1940s cottage fixer: built when homes were a big petite 1000 square feet with sleeping porches for summer cool. I adore romantic, vintage, a ruffle of French, Nordic, and Swedish country with a sprinkle of cottage glam: a relaxed whimsical, elegance. It's our home, and there is painting, music, gardening, creating, living, kitties, french poodles, (and a pug)...imperfect with luster.